You do not win 12 games after sustaining multiple injuries at the foundational positions your team is built on without players performing above expectation. It’s easy to remember the bad plays and outcomes, but we often forget the backups who stepped up and filled in when they weren’t expected to play in the first place.
Today, we ask which 49ers players exceeded expectations during the 2025 season. Let’s go through each position, starting with the obvious one on offense.
Mac Jones
Mac Jones threw as many touchdowns as he did interceptions with the Jaguars in 2024. He looked serviceable, but even Kyle Shanahan would admit he didn’t think Jones would win his first three games as a starter. It was telling how aggressive the offense was with Jones under center. Your typical backup isn’t throwing 39, 41, and 49 passes in his first three games. Jones also threw for over 279 yards in his first four starts. This time around, Jones doubled his touchdown-to-interception ratio, paving the way for him to start somewhere in 2026.
Jake Tonges
Kendrick Bourne had back-to-back games of 142 yards receiving, which is an impressive feat for any wideout, let alone one that wasn’t on the roster in Week 1.
However, it was Jake Tonges who was the pass catcher to catch our eye and step up when the 49ers needed him. Tonges was replacing a Hall of Famer and managed five touchdowns. He didn’t rack up the gaudy individual numbers that Bourne did, but the timing of his receptions and contributions felt just as impactful, if not more so.
It’s still a bit bizarre that Tonges would go one game with nine targets, then the next game not sniff the field. Regardless, Tonges came through for the 49ers’ passing game at pivotal moments.
Colton McKivitz
There have been calls to upgrade at right tackle since Colton McKivitz took over as the full-time starter. Many of those concerns were justified. That is, until this season. McKivitz played a career-high in snaps, but saw career lows in blown blocks. He’s always been a dynamic run blocker. That didn’t change in 2025. McKivitz didn’t commit a penalty against the run and only allowed one run stuff. His 0.9 blown block rate in the running game was the fifth-lowest in the league among all offensive linemen.
McKivitz’s issues have always been in pass protection. Kyle Shanahan has done his best to help his right tackle during the past few seasons schematically. McKivitz’s blown block rate in pass protection was 6.3 percent in 2023, which was among the league leaders and well above the league average of 2.7 percent. In 2024, that number dipped to 5.9. This year, McKivitz got that number down to 4.3. McKivitz’s sack percentage also went from 2.4 percent in 2023 to 1.3 percent in 2024 to 0.9 percent in 2025.
It’s not always pretty, and there are still the inevitable ugly reps, but McKivitz did not play like a questionable starter this past season. He exceeded expectations.
Those are three that stood out for us. Who would you list as players on the 49ers roster that outperformed this past season?
About the Author: Insidethe49
